View Full Version : Reading Vs Liverpool (Carling Cup)
redeagle
22-09-2007, 09:29 PM
Its interesting to see what team will line out..my guess is a understrength one.
Our next away Prem match is to Wigan so should we use this game to get our top players into some proper form or give them a week off and blood the youngsters some more?
BornaRedLass
23-09-2007, 10:10 AM
Whats an understrength team though? Dont think we can afford to think of any of our games as more important than others. We should beat Reading and thats the end of it. Drawing our last three games is just not good enough. :(
I think our first team squad has so much strength in depth this season, that we are going to see alot of first team players involved here. And if last season is anything to go by, Reading will field an under strength team, so I'm confident of coming away from this one with a 2-0 win for the Redmen.
RedNip
23-09-2007, 03:16 PM
Cant see Reading taking this to serious, with their main concerned been staying in the PL' it should give us a chance to blood a few young players & also get back to winning ways!
No point trying to second guess Rafa! but I'll give it a go
Itandje
Darby
(SanJose/Arbeloa)
Hobbs
(Insua/Aurelio)
Yossi,Momo,Lucas,Leto
Lindfield, Crouch
With Torres on the bench :D
Patrick_H
23-09-2007, 04:19 PM
Cant see Reading taking this to serious, with their main concerned been staying in the PL' it should give us a chance to blood a few young players & also get back to winning ways!
No point trying to second guess Rafa! but I'll give it a go
Itandje
Darby
(SanJose/Arbeloa)
Hobbs
(Insua/Aurelio)
Yossi,Momo,Lucas,Leto
Lindfield, Crouch
With Torres on the bench :D
Itandje
Finnan
Hobbs
Carragher
Aurelio
Youssi
Momo
Lucas
Riise
Crouch
Torres
Kopite
24-09-2007, 02:36 PM
here's my shout
GK: Charles Itange (forgive the spellings)
RB: Steve Finnan (Stephen Darby might get in here)
CB: Jack Hobbs
CB: Carra or Arbeloa
LB: Fabio Aurelio
LM: Sebastian Leto
CM: Lucas Levia
CM: Momo Sissoko
RM: Yossi Bennayoun
S: Peter Crouch
S: Nabil EL Zahr (although I don’t know why Torres is in Squad if he isnt goin to play him)
Terry Conlon
24-09-2007, 03:23 PM
Going by Itandje warming up pre birmingham game i hope he's not playing, he could'nt catch a cold. i actually thaught it was Sissoko. He's shocking!
although you can;t 2nd guess Rafa I;d be surprised to see Sami or Carra feature. with Agger out, we have no other cover
flashm
24-09-2007, 06:04 PM
according to the tv today it looks like young jack hobbs will start alongside carra with itandje in goal (sorry terry) so lets see if hobbs can do better than the pre season games, he is one for the future and should play in these type of games to get valuable first team experience
RedNip
24-09-2007, 07:17 PM
although you can;t 2nd guess Rafa I;d be surprised to see Sami or Carra feature. with Agger out, we have no other cover
On less! Rafa wanted to see how Carra & Hobbs play together!
according to the tv today it looks like young jack hobbs will start alongside carra with itandje in goal (sorry terry) so lets see if hobbs can do better than the pre season games, he is one for the future and should play in these type of games to get valuable first team experience
To be fair to the lad in pre-season he played the holding role in midfield & not his preferred positions CB
I know Aurelio needs games under his belt coming back from injury but I do hope Rafa starts with Insua its only a matter of time before this lad breaks into the team & becomes the number one LB at the club the sooner the better for me! also might be a good game to give Babel a run in his natural positions up front but! cant see it happening
jaws2
25-09-2007, 09:22 AM
My guess is:
Itandje
Finnan
Carra
Hobbs
Aurelio
Benayoun
Momo
Lucas
Leto
Torres
Crouch
Gonna be a tough game, although I think Reading will probably play some fringe players also. I’ll go for a 2-1 win.
according to the tv today it looks like young jack hobbs will start alongside carra with itandje in goal (sorry terry) so lets see if hobbs can do better than the pre season games, he is one for the future and should play in these type of games to get valuable first team experience
I would have thought Hobbs would have gotten a run out in centre mid seeing as that was where in played pre-season. Still, looking forward to seeing plenty of the young emerging talent on show tonight.
Malzheimer
25-09-2007, 10:22 AM
My guess is:
Itandje
Finnan
Carra
Hobbs
Aurelio
Benayoun
Momo
Lucas
Leto
Torres
Crouch
Gonna be a tough game, although I think Reading will probably play some fringe players also. I’ll go for a 2-1 win.
That would be the 11 I'd more or less guess will play tonight. Is momo fit and in the squad though? I'd have SG in for Momo/Lucas and possibly Darby for Finnan at RB
Malzheimer
25-09-2007, 10:25 AM
I would have thought Hobbs would have gotten a run out in centre mid seeing as that was where in played pre-season. Still, looking forward to seeing plenty of the young emerging talent on show tonight.
Think Rafa wants to see can he hold his own centre back 'cos of our shortage of fit central defenders at the mo with Dagger out. He could be needed in a Prem game if Sami or Carra picks up a knock. Would like to see Spearing get a run centre mid though
fitzpatrickgary
25-09-2007, 11:38 AM
lets all hobbs gets a chance we are short on cover at centre half and the experience will do him good
my 2 cent;
Itandje
finnan
hobbs
carra
auereilo
yossi
lucas
momo
leto
crouch
voronin
will reading put out a weakened team like in all cup competitions last year?
sameold
25-09-2007, 12:11 PM
My 11 for tonight:
30. Itandje
17. Arbeloa
23. Carragher
46. Hobbs
12. Aurelio
6. Riise
11. Benayoun
21. Leiva
33. Leto
15. Crouch
19. Babel
Beano
25-09-2007, 12:15 PM
What would peoples feelings be if Rafa starts Torres tonight ?
Surely this is the one competition that you do "rest" your bigger players and give the lads not playing as often a run out.
What would peoples feelings be if Rafa starts Torres tonight ?
Surely this is the one competition that you do "rest" your bigger players and give the lads not playing as often a run out.
I agree but I think he's now going to play Torres, Gerrard and Carra tonight.
Fowler's God
25-09-2007, 12:25 PM
I would doubt that Rafa would risk Stevie and Torres in tonights game and Carra as well. I would be nice to see Babel get a go up front he would be lethal there
Gerrard85
25-09-2007, 12:44 PM
dont matter what team rafa puts out 2nite, changes are for this game, not match against birmingham last sat. still raging over it! whats the point starting torres 2nite, last saturday was way more important and if he does start him, is 2nite more important then last saturday??
PJLFC
25-09-2007, 03:24 PM
agree it would be crazy for rafa to start torres tonite instead of against Bham on sat.priority has to be league and the expense of every other comp including champs lge and especially carling cup
redeagle
25-09-2007, 04:23 PM
If torres starts I will go nuts.
Does make you wonder at times.
If torres starts I will go nuts.
Does make you wonder at times.
my gut feeling is he;s gonna play. it;s the type of thing you can just see Rafa doing
Aido82
25-09-2007, 06:04 PM
Torres starts
Fernando Torres starts as Rafa Benitez names a strong side to face Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
The Reds boss has made nine changes from the side that faced Birmingham City at the weekend with Fabio Aurelio making his first start of the season.
Peter Crouch will partner Torres up front while Brazilian youngster Lucas makes his first full appearance in a Reds shirt.
Team: Itandje, Finnan, Aurelio, Carragher, Arbeloa, Leto, Sissoko, Lucas, Benayoun, Crouch, Torres.
Subs: Martin, Gerrard, Riise, Hobbs, Putterill
**yippee thats 100 posts
Torres starting tonight is bound to spark a few people off :)
Aido82
25-09-2007, 06:13 PM
well, we paid 26 mill for him. We want our best striker to play in the league where we can pick up 3 points, not a mickey mouse cup.
I love rafa as much as the next man, but some of this calls are unbeilevable
Fowler's God
25-09-2007, 06:41 PM
look he is playing get over it guys, in my view Rafa is giving him a taste of domestic cup football in england which could be beneficial come FA Cup time. Fair enough he didn't play saturday but been as Rafa has seen all the players day in and day out since they came back from International Duty and possibly some still have niggling injuries like Stevie for definite and Torres as well. Should be good to see how he gets on tonight though
And he goes down after 2 mins, if that had been serious i tells ya...!
Poor crowd, hope lucas has a good one, maybe even a goal!
Anyone made a bomb with Yossi to be first scorer???
What A Goal!
Aido82
25-09-2007, 07:14 PM
think the crowd seems good
good goal
just as i speak 1-1 - convey - good goal also
Good strike, but should have been disallowed!
Oh and about the crowd it did seem a bit empty, filled well up now though, ours is a bit sparse, midweek though so you can exppect it, should be a good game now!
ooooooooooohhhh what a goal. Some output from Leto.
Love the way he passes the ball in the net
In full voice now, Bikey lucky too, if he had picked up a yeller in the first half for being all over Nandp, he'd be off now...
Blatant peno, and what would have been Bikey off, denied!?!?!
Ref is having a mare isn't he. After all the soft pens against us this season you'd think we'd get a stonwaller
YESSSSS!!!!!
If Rafa doesn't start Nando every game, i'll go mental, hat-trick hero!
cool as a fricking cucumber
Beano
25-09-2007, 08:32 PM
So Torres starts - gets 3 and has won the match for us.
Really makes you wonder if Rafa is planning game by game or looking ahead at the next games. Why he didn't start on Saturday is gonna be examined even more now.
Roll on wigan
So Torres starts - gets 2 and looks like he has won the match for us.
Really makes you wonder if Rafa is planning game by game or looking ahead at the next games. Why he didn't start on Saturday is gonna be examined even more now.
Roll on wigan
3 mate!!!!:D
Beano
25-09-2007, 08:35 PM
3 mate!!!!:D
Just as i was typing it too
megager
25-09-2007, 08:55 PM
Well What can you say. amazing. The man!!!!!
Aido82
25-09-2007, 09:01 PM
good game from torres, lets hope he starts on sat
scousedub
25-09-2007, 09:14 PM
Torres showed his class tonight, took a battering for the whole game and just got up and got on with it. Has to start Saturday
south
25-09-2007, 09:24 PM
i think Leto will have to improve a lot if he has any hope of breaking into the first team.He produced one or two nice passes alright but I thought he was looking for frees a lot of the time when should of trying to beat his man.. He wasn’t going to get much from that ref anyway, I thought he was awful.I think Leiva could be a great signing giving the time.well done to Fernando let's hope it's the first of many
Gerrard85
25-09-2007, 09:28 PM
first of all, torres is one of the best strikers in the world at the moment. he has absolutely everything, the reading defence wer run ragged by him and he banged in 3 great strikers goals in the second half. el nino is gona be the most exciting player in the english year this year, sure of it. but rafa, why play your best striker by a mile in a early round of the carling cup and leave him out of an important home game in the league where 3 points are vital? every liverpool supporter would give their right arm for the league and you start el nino in the carling cup instead. im at a loss trying to figure this out... anyway back to torres, 6 goals in 9 appearances so far. already the darling of the kop and for years to come.
corkkopite
25-09-2007, 09:31 PM
Excellent game by Torres, showed he’s strong enough to cope with the physical side of the English game. Leiva looked a good prospect early on, showed some great touches and good link up play, but tired in the second half.
Fowler's God
25-09-2007, 09:37 PM
three class finishes from the man, agree yoko lucas impressed so did aurelio and leto along with yossi tonight. But with Lucas with his first start was very impressive
King of the Knackers
25-09-2007, 09:58 PM
So hope this doesnt mean Torres doesnt play at the weekend but plays against Marseille next week,im sure he will play at weekend though.
As to why Rafa didnt play him against Birmingham, Wigan and Marseille is beyond me and let him rest against Reading.
yodabenitez
26-09-2007, 01:26 AM
Can't type anything about Torres....still drooling:)
Lucas was very good for most of the match, nice passer, calm and clever.
Don't know what to think about Arulio, his defending is pants but sweet left foot.
I do not like this goalkeeper Itandje.
Is it just me or is the standard of commentary just getting worse & worse on all stations? It seems like those chosen to commentate haven't a clue about the game generally or those they are talking about.
Dub13
26-09-2007, 07:44 AM
What a good game for a mid week league cup tie,both teams went for it from the off.
9Torres
26-09-2007, 08:15 AM
Firstly, Torres was a class above - no need to explain myself here eh? The standard of refereeing was just awful. Bikey should have been sent off. Their 1st goal should have been disallowed, we should have had a stone wall pen, shorey hacked the legs off Benayoun (i think) in the 2nd half (right in front of the ref) and was never even booked. I thought Arbeloa did ok in CB, but was a bit all over the place, I think against better teams he'd have been punished - would like to have seen Hobbs in there just to see what he's capable of. Lucas looked pretty good though could have got involved a bit more. Great touch and technique and definitely somethin there to work with.
Though my main concern for the squad now is the lack of a decent 2nd choice GK. Itandje was only awful. Right from his 1st touch i wasnt at all convinced. Where was he for the 2nd Reading goal? I pray Reina doesnt pick up any injuries. I had no confidence in him at all and I doubt the defenders will have any confidence in him either.
Overall a good game and a good result - though without Torres would Liverpool have created or even converted any chanes? Everythin seemed to go through him. Fantastic goal by Benayoun too by the way. Lets hope this sparks him into action now.
liverbird!!
26-09-2007, 08:20 AM
Isn't it amazing that he would play Torres in a Carling cup game and not in the premiership?
Just goes to show what can actually happen when you play you're best players in games!!
Torres proved last night that he should be in the tean no matter what!.
Isn't it amazing that he would play Torres in a Carling cup game and not in the premiership?
Just goes to show what can actually happen when you play you're best players in games!!
Torres proved last night that he should be in the tean no matter what!.
hopefully Rafa has realised (though I wouldn;t count on it) that Torres needs to play every premiership game, when possible. It;s not only his own individual play but the fact that when opposition players know he;s around their distracted, creating time and space for others. He's now a name the other team will pray isn;t on the teamsheet.
On last nights performance, I dont think there was much else he could have done. One of the first times I think I would have given someone a 10/10 rating
fitzpatrickgary
26-09-2007, 11:26 AM
torres was out of this world last night not just his finishing but the way he can handle the physical side of the game
yossi had a great game too great goal did a lot of work tracking back too
great game by all they pulled together and worked as a team, althought readings 2nd goal was a bit messy and should not have gone past the white line but we can allow for a little mistake every now and again wen we have torres on the pitch.
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